Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ozone as a strong oxidant may induce an inflammatory response.Aim: The hypothesis was verified as to whether ozonated autohemotherapy using an ozone dose in therapeutic range changes the plasma concentration of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, markers of inflammation.Methods: In a controlled, single-blind, cross-over study, 12 chronically hemodialyzed patients with peripheral arterial disease were exposed to nine sessions of autohemotherapy with blood exposure to oxygen as a control followed by nine sessions of ozonated autohemotherapy with an ozone concentration of 50 μg/ml.Results: There was no statistical difference between C-reactive protein levels at baseline (1.53±1.01 mg/l), after nine sessions of control autohemotherapy (1.48±0.96 mg/l), and after nine sessions of ozonated autohemotherapy (1.55±0.84 mg/l). There was also no statistical difference between the interleukin-6 serum concentration at baseline (438±118 pg/ml), after nine sessions of control autohemotherapy (444±120 pg/ml), and after nine sessions of ozonated autohemotherapy (466±152 pg/ml).Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that ozonated autohemotherapy using an ozone concentration of 50 μg/ml does not induce an inflammatory response.